11/06, 1:06pm

NASA, Department of Defense among first to access Lytro developer kit

Lytro, the producers of the light-field cameras of the same name and the Illum, is giving interested parties access to its technology. The company is releasing the Lytro Platform and its first Lytro Development Kit for enterprise users to try using the technology in other ways, with the first customers including NASA and the US Department of Defense.

04/22, 12:23pm

Lytro Illum 40-megaray resolution a significant improvement on original camera

Lytro has unveiled its second camera using light-field photography. Just like the original Lytro camera, the Lytro Illum allows photographers to change the point of focus of a shot after the shot has been taken, with the camera's construction updated to look more like a traditional DSLR instead of the original's compact and unusual body.

11/26, 10:31am

The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted Apple a patent on a refocusable camera system similar to Lytro's camera technology. Apple's concept is based on a microlens adapter, but like Lytro, would let people refocus a photo after it's taken -- something impossible with regular camera optics. The Apple patent in fact cites the work of Lytro founder Ren Ng as prior art, and reports have previously noted that, prior to Lytro going public with its product, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs invited Ng to his home for a demonstration.

07/16, 10:08am

Web version of Google Play store receives UI refresh

Google has updated the web version of the Google Play store, which now seemingly embraces the card-style interface seen in the Android version and other Google properties. The redesigned site now offers a menu sidebar to switch between the various sections, while individual app pages offer larger app screenshots and images, and bigger app icons.

05/27, 8:38am

Computational photography said to be next challenge for smartphone images

Nokia may be looking towards adding a 16-lens camera and 'computational photography' to its Lumia devices in the future, The light field photography, notably demonstrated in the Lytro camera, has been hinted to make an appearance in a future Lumia by Nokia executive vice president for smartphones Jo Harlow.

12/27, 6:44am

Camera module to allow images with all subjects in focus

Toshiba is working on a camera sensor for mobile devices for post-shot image focusing, potentially allowing viewers to change the focus of a photograph while it is being viewed. . The camera module can apparently take images similar to the Lytro light field camera, but shrinks down the process from Lytro's 4-inch camera to a sensor a cubic centimeter in size.

12/11, 3:45pm

Wii U, Surface among other list entries

Time Magazine has awarded the iPhone 5 the title of "Gadget of the Year" for 2012. In his piece on the phone, writer Harry McCracken calls the device "one of the most artfully polished gadgets anyone's ever built," and claims it outperforms other "nifty" smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S III, which isn't included in his top-ten list despite the presence of the Galaxy Note II in eighth place. "When it comes to melding hardware, software and services so tightly that the seams fade away, Apple still has no peer," McCracken argues.

11/15, 8:49pm

Lytro Perspective Shift allows for point of view shift

Lytro today announced two new features for its eponymous light field camera. A software update in the coming weeks will give Lytro photographers the ability to alter the point of view in a picture after it has been taken with the new Perspective Shift feature. Also, Lytro owners will be able to use interactive filters to edit Lytro photographs, thanks to the forthcoming update.

10/09, 2:04pm

ISO, shutter speed configurable on light-field camera

Lytro has added manual controls to its light-field camera. The ability to change the camera's settings, allowing for more control over shot parameters such as shutter speed and ISO, comes on the same day the Lytro hits retail stores across the US. The update is also accompanied by two new colors: "Seaglass" and "Moxie Pink."

09/25, 11:42am

Light field camera reaches Canada, Australia, Singapore

Lytro has signed distribution deals with a number of US-based retailers, and is expanding to other markets. The light field camera will soon be made available internationally, including in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, while the US will see it appearing in more mainstream online stores, such as Amazon, as well as retail stores.

02/29, 6:10pm

Lytro reaches end users at last

Lytro kicked off spring early on Wednesday by shipping its promised light field camera. The genuinely unique camera costs $399 in its 8GB blue and gray variants and $499 for the 16GB red edition. Using one currently requires a Mac to process the final shots; Lytro has so far only developed an OS X version of the editing app used to pick the focus point and process final shots.

02/09, 12:10pm

Lytro camera torn down by FCC, shows Wi-Fi, BT

Lytro's infinite focus camera has been torn down by the FCC, revealing its internal components. Behind the 1.5-inch display hides a Marvell Avastar 88W8787 system-on-chip that contains both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios. This is interesting, as it indicates the camera has the hardware required to be controlled over a wireless link or share its photos online.

01/25, 8:45pm

Talks appear to extend beyond Apple

Lytro is reportedly willing to collaborate directly with smartphone makers to bring its light-field photography technology into future handsets. In an interview with PCWorld, Lytro chairman Charles Chi noted that the company is currently set up to build and market products under its own branding, however the smartphone ecosystem is "very complex" and "very different."

01/24, 12:05am

Steve Jobs said to have talked with Lytro on cams

Apple's Steve Jobs may have discussed long-term plans to use Lytro's light field cameras in future iPhones and other devices. An advance excerpt from 9to5 of the book Inside Apple claims that Jobs reached out to Lytro founder Ren Ng during 2011 to talk design and cameras. After meeting in Jobs' neighborhood of Palo Alto, Ng was asked for three points of collaboration between Lytro and Apple.

10/19, 3:20pm

Lytro details its unique camera price, date

Lytro at an event showed and detailed the first camera using its post-shot focusing technology. The self-titled camera breaks from tradition and is just a long box shape; it doesn't need many controls given that it can be focused after the shot is taken, the startup said. Combined with an f2.8 lens, it doesn't need a flash and has just two buttons for control.

06/22, 10:45am

Lytro light field cam allows post-shot focus

Newcomer Lytro has unveiled a new camera technology that promised to revolutionize how cameras capture shots. Its new sensor captures light fields independent of the direction of the camera and avoids the need to focus the shot at the time it's taken. Instead, photographers would just have to pick the focal point in software, either on the camera or on another device.